Suspended roof construction



| s. LONGENECKER SUSPENDED RooF coNsTRucT1oN D ec. 24, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 2, 1960 INVENTOR. Lew S. Lange/lecker BY 4% @am 5% H/S ATTORNE YS Dec 24, 1963 1 s. LoNGENEcKER 3,115,109

SUSPENDED 'ROOF CONSTRUCTION 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 2, 1960 INVEN TOR. l. evi S. L ongenec/rer m, f1m7fw HIS ATTORNEYS Dec. 24, 1963 I.. s. LNGENECKR 3,115,109

SUSPENDED ROOF CONSTRUCTION Filed May 2, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR. Lev/'5. Longenec/rer www 1M H/` A TTORNE YS L wb -aLf I II'- 221W \2o U L L *Figa2| m25 22 Dec. 24, 1963 L. s. LoNGi-:NECKER- 3,115,109

SUSPENDED RooF CONSTRUCTION 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 2, 1960 INVENTOR. Lew' S. L ongenec/rer my/64M; 1% HIS ATTORNEYS Dec. 24, 1963l L. s. LONGENECKER 3,115,109v

SUSPENDED Noox` CONSTRUCTION INVENToR. Lew S. L ongenecker v Bywn, cm

HIS ATTORNEYS Dec. v24, 1963 l.. s LONGENECKER 3,115,109

SUSPENDED RooF CONSTRUCTION Filed May 2. 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Fig.20

IVENTON 26 Lew S. Longenec/rer H/s Arron/VEYS United States Patent O 3,115,169 SUSPENDED RUGF CONSTRUCTHGN Levi S. Longenecker, 6i lt/Iayfair Drive, Pittsburgh 2S, Pa. Filed May 2, 196i), Ser. No. 26,286 17 Claims. (Cl. lill-99) This invention relates to a suspended furnace roof construction and particularly, .to `an improved roof assembly and pant construction employed `for suspending refractory tile or brick in a furnace structure.

In a high temperature furnace installation, such as here involved, refractory tile or block are mounted in a closely abutting relation for exposure to the inside furnace heat. The rtile or block are supported by refractory hangers which are, in turn, supported by metal hangers `and metal furnace frame members. It is impor-tant in a furnace roof or arch to facilitate the initial installation or mounting of the members thereof and particularly the tile, and to do so in such a manner las to make possible a maximum life of the roof and to :also facilitate the repair and maintenance of the roof. The mounting should be such as to avoid undue stress and strain, particularly on the refractory members, to .minimize the metal parts necessary without weakening the construction, to provide flexibility of installation, and to suspend or mount the refractory tile furnace-lining members of the roof in -an effective sealed-off relationship with respect to each other.

It has been `an object of my invention to provide an improved furnace roof or `arch structure and particularly, to develop an improved roof member construction and assembly; i 1

Another object has been to determine the factors which have heretofore given difficulty in a furnace roof construction `and to meet the factors in such a manner `as to solve the problem involved;

Another object of my invention has been to provide an improved method Vof employing and assembling furnace roof members, including refractory and metal parts there- A further object of my invention has been to provide an improved refractory hanger and tile or block construction for a furnace land improved means for mounting the members in a suspended position and supporting them as a part of the furnace structure;

A still fur-ther object of my invention has been to devise furnace assembly parts which will minimize stress and strain of an Iarch or roof construction in its utilization and, at the same time, provide a simplified arrangement;

These `and Iother objects of -my invention will appear to Athose skilled in the art from the description of fthe specification `and the showing of the drawings;

In the drawings, FIGURE 1 is a top plan fragment of a furnace roof or arch assembly constructed in accordance with my invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side View in elevation, partially in section, of and on the same scale as the Structural assembly of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is -an enlarged sectional fragment in elevation taken through the structure of FIGURES l `and 2, at right angles thereto; this gure illustrates how refractory tile or block members are assembled as interfitting rows in an assembly consisting, for example, of rows A, B and C of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged isometric view lin elevation of a refractory hanger part or member employed in the construction of FIGURES 1 to 3; this figure is on the same scale as FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a front view in elevation of the refractory hanger of and on the same scale as FIGURE 4;

3,115,109 Patented Bec. 24, 1F63 ice FIGURE 6 is an end or edge view in elevation of the refractory hanger of FIGURES 4 and 5 `and on the same scale;

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view on the scale of and of the refractory hanger of FIGURES 4, 5 and 6;

FIGURE 8 is a horizontal section on the scale of and taken along fthe line VIII-VIII of IFIGURE 6;

FIGURE 9 is a vertical section on the scale of and taken along the line IX-IX of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE l0 is an isometric View in elevation of a refractory tile or block part or member of FIGURE 3 and on the same scale as such figure;

FIGURE ll lis a fragmental isometric view on the scale of FIGURE l0 and of a top portion of the refractory tile or block of that figure and taken `from lan opposite side thereof;

FIGURE l2 is an isometric view in elevation of a metal hanger shown in FIGURE 3 and on the same scale as such figure;

FIGURE 13 is an isometric view in elevation of `a metal link bar of FIGURE 3 and on the same scale as such figure;

FIGURE 13A is a horizontal section taken along the line XIIIA-XIIIA of FIGURE 13 and on an enlarged scale as to such ligure; 1

FIGURE 14 is a transverse view, somewhat similar to FIGURE 3 but on a reduced scale, illustrating that refractory tile of a pair of adjacent rows, for example, at fthe center line `of the roof, may be reversed or turned around, in order to provide opposite side pivot mounting of the tile as side halves of the roof are built up therefrom by working two (opposite) directions from the center line; it shows that, in such an event, where refractory tile of one row do not complement those of an adjacent row, voids between the grooves may be filled up with mortar;

FIGURE l5 is a top plan View on a slightly enlarged scale with respect to and somewhat similar to FIGURE 1, but :illustrating additional rows of blocks represented by D, E, and F, and showing modifications that may be employed, for example, in a repair assembly;

FIGURE 16 is a fragmental sectional View in elevation on the scale of and taken along the line XVI-XVI of FIGURE 15; i

FIGURE 17 is an isometric view in elevation on the scale of FIGURE 4, illustrating a modified refractory hanger for use in facilitating repair or replacement work in a furnace roof;

FIGURE 18 is a top plan View somewhat similar to FIGURES l and l5 and on the scale of FIGURE l, illustrating a modified construction employing rows G, H and I, wherein a modified -type of hanger, such as shown in FIGURE 2l, may be employed;

FIGURE 19 is a fragmental side View -in elevation of the construction of FIGURE 18 and on the same scale;

FIGURE 20 is a side section in elevation on the scale of and taken along Ithe line XX-XX of FIGURE 18, showing the mounted assembly of row H thereof; and,

FIGURE 2l is an isometric view in elevation on the scale of FIGURE l12, showing a modified type of metal hanger suitable for employment in the construction of FIGURES 18 to 20; it will be noted that the modified construction of these figures represents one that may be employed in replacing a section of a furnace that has been burnt out, for example; the modification facilitates the insertion of a repair portion within the furnace roof without disturbing other portions thereof.

=In FIGURES ll to 13, inclusive, l have illustrated a roof structure Iii of my invention that is particularly suitable in the initial building of a roof. As shown in FIG- URES 1 and 2, suitable support beams 11 that are normally full-length transverse roof members, constitute t spaced-apart main roof I-beams and may be mounted, set or secured in a conventional manner at their ends to form an overhead roof superstructure. Relatively shortlength, spanning, cross I-beam members 12 that normally extend as longitudinal members of the roof, are shown as positioned to extend transversely across the spacing between adjacent pairs of the main or support beam members 11 and, as to an adjacent pair of support beams 11, extend in a spaced-apart relationship with each other. The cross beams 12 are assembled as groups or rows of endwise-aligncd members that extend `longitudinally of the furnace and crosswise of the support beams `111 (see FIGURE 2) to define overhead supports for aligned rows of refractory tile or block members 26.

It will be noted that each cross beam member 12 is positioned to rest at its opposite ends on the top face of one side of bottom flanges of an adjacent pair of main beams 11, in adjacency with the web portions of the main beams, and, if desired, may be tilted (raised and lowered) into and out `of position about one of its ends. The cross beams `12 do not require tie-down means for such ends. In accordance with my invention, the cross beam members 12 are esssentialiy slidable along the bottom flanges of the pair of main or support beams 11. In FIGURE l, I have illustrated two spaced-apart tile rows A and C, as defined and directly supported by metal hangers 13 in alignment on longitudinal rows of cross beam members 12, and an intermediate or alternate row B, spaced between adjacent pairs of such beam members and indirectly supported therefrom by metal link bar hangers or members 1o, see also FIGURE 3.

As shown particularly in FIGURES 2 and 3, each cross beam 12 carries a series of upright metal hangers 13 of somewhat rectangular shape and closed or looped frame configuration that are adapted to be slid over the ents of such cross beam and ride along and hang from its top liange in a substantially parallel and spaced relation with its web and along opposed edges of its top and bottom flanges to project therebeneath, Each hanger 13 (sce also FIGURE l2) has vertically spaced-apart top and bottom, cross-connecting or link portions 13a and 13b and horizontally spaced-apart, vertically-extending, side leg or frame portions 13e and 13d, all as a part of an integral or one-piece hanger structure.

Referring particularly to FIGURE l2, each hanger 13 has position-stabilizing tab means consisting of a pair of opposed or oppositely-projecting top tabs, foot prongs or lugs 14 that project centrallybackwardly and yforwardly from and on the plane rof the top connecting portion 13a. The prongs 14, as shown particularly in FIGURES 1 to 3, are adapted to rest on and along the top flange of an associated cross beam member 12 and prevent the hanger 13 from swinging vertically in its suspended relationship. Again referring to FIGURE l2, each loop hanger 13 has a pair of guide shelf portions, extending lugs, prongs or feet 15 which project from one edge face of the pair of side portions 13e and 13d, adjacent the horizontal lower connecting portion 13b, but in a spaced relation therewith. As a pair, the `feet 15 define sideguides for opposed sides of a refractory hanger 17, see FIGURE 3, and also as support shelves for latching end portions 16e of a metal link bar 16.

As shown particularly in FIGURE 13, each link bar 16 has a centrally-disposed, closed, rectangular, loop frame portion 16a that comprises integral horizontal top and bottom portions and side portions. The loop 16o, as shown in FIGURE 3, is adopted to latch within endlatching slot portions 19 (see also `FIGURE 4) of a refractory hanger 17. Each link bar 1o also has an opposed pair of side-extending horizontally-positioned leg portions 16b that project adjacent the top portion of the center loop 16a to cooperate with and normally rest in a top clearance Irelation with .refractory hangers 17 of adjacent row pairs, such as A and C of FIGURE l, to support an intermediate row, such as B of the same figure.

Each arm 1Gb of the link bar 16 is shown as having a turned-down latching end 16C that is adapted to cooperate with or tit above sidewise-open ltop slots in a refractory hanger 17. It will be noted from FIGURE 3 that the ends 16e normally latch over and rest upon shelf portions 15 of the metal hangers 13. As will be noted from FIGURE 13, link bar casting 16 is reinforced, and particularly along its leg portions 1Gb. That is as shown, a centrally-disposed vertical ange projects upwardly from a horizontal fiange and extends from the loop frame 16a, outwardly along the full length yof each leg portion 16h, as well as along and up to the end of the turned-down latching end 16e.

Referring particularly to FIGURES 4 to 9, inclusive, I have illustrated refractory hangers 17 which are employed, as shown in FIGURES l to 3, inclusive, to latch with and suspend a group, for example four, refractory brick or tile members 26 (see FIGURE l0). It will be noted that each refractory hanger tile 17 extends in the direction of an associated cross slide beam member 12 and that each hanger tile is suspended by a pair of metal hangers 13 that latch within their latching end or slot portions 19, see particularly FIGURE 2. As shown in FIGURE 2, the :refractory hangers 17 are of a sufficient length, for example about twelve inches, to extend fully across and slightly beyond the bottom iange of the support beams 11, so that they may be hung at their opposite ends from hangers 13 that are carried by end portions of a pair of adjacent, longitudinally-aligned, relatively short length cross beams 12 of a given row such as A or C. It may be noted at this point that, although in FIGURE 1, l have illustrated rows A and C as directly supported from the cross beam members 12 and the row B as indirectly supported from an adjacent pair of such members 12 by means of metal link bars 16 which simplies the construction and minimizes the amount of metal required and importantly provides top access for patching, that without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, intermediate rows B may be supported in the same manner as the rows A and C, thus eliminating the use of link bars 16, but requiring additional cross beams 12 and cooperating sets or row pairs of metal hangers 13.

Again referring to FIGURES 4 to 9, inclusive, the refractory hanger 17 has a somewhat narrow top face 17a whose width, as shown in FIGURE 3, substantially corresponds to the width of the bottom liange of an associated cross beam member 12. The refractory hanger 17 also has a somewhat narrow bottom face 17b which is adapted to pivotally suspend a group of refractory tile or brick 26 in an endwise-aligned relation with each other, see particularly FIGURES 2 and 3. The refractory hanger 17 also has opposed pairs of substantially planar edge or end faces 17e and 17f. Top notches or slots 18 are shown in the top face 18b that are open to the opposite sides 17C and 17d and have a spaced relation therealong to normally cooperate with the latching end portions 16e` of link bars 16, and to receive and support the portions 16C (see FIGURE l5) between hangers 13 when the roof is being patched. Opposite top end portions of the refractory hanger 17 have half slots 18a that are also open to their ends to define a full slot with like half slots of an adjacent abutting and endwise-aligned refractory hanger.

Cross-extending, horizontal latching slot portions 19 are open through upper portions of the end faces 17e and 17'f and extend between front and back side faces 17e` and 17d. It will be noted that the slots 19 have inwardlyenlarged or offset latching key portions to receive a bottom connecting or cross portion 13b of the metal hangers 13. As shown in FIGURE 3, the portion 13b is adapted to be entered from the end face 17e or 171, as the case many be, to swingably suspend the refractory hanger 17 adjacent it end. It will be noted that a pair of the metal hangers 13 suspend each refractory hanger 17.

One side (front) face 17C of the refractory hanger 17 has a set of inwardly-offset latching grooves, depressions or slots 20 that are closed-off by an inwardly-offset horizontal bottom rib, rim or flange portion Z1. The flange portion 21 as well as intermediate Vertical rib portions Z2 and end rib portions 22a, the latter of which are on the same vertical plane as the flange portion 21, define or enclose the slots 2@ their bottom and vertical sides. A downwardly-inwardly declining intermediate pivot surface 23, see particularly FIGURE 9, defines the upper boundary for the slots 2t). rl`he opposite side (back) face 17d of the tile or refractory hanger 17 is provided with spaced-apart latching grooves or slots 24 constituting back grooves which are beveled or sloped downwardly-inwardly towards the bottom face 17b and are defined by downwardly-inclined adjacent tongues 25. It will be noted that the latching grooves 24 are transversely-aligned with respect to the latching slots, depressions or grooves 2d on the opposite or front face 17e.

Referring particularly to FIGURES and ll, I have shown refractory block or tile 26 that have latching slot portions centrally-disposed within and open to their top ends or faces, so that they may be carried in a suspended and aligned relationship as groups by the refractory hanger 17 which is pivotally inserted Within (see FIGURE 3) and is retained in a latched relation within the open slot portions of the refractory tile. Each tile 26 has relatively narrow top and bottom faces or ends 26a and 2611, relatively wide vertical side faces 26C and 26d, and relatively narrow vertical side or edge faces 26e and 261i An upwardly-open top latch or latching slot portion 27 has an offset inner portion, as dened by an upper pivot ledge 27a, to guide it into a complementary fitting relation within the slots 2t? of the pivot latching nose of the refractory hanger 17. The pivot ledge 27a has opposed, inwardlyoffset side faces and an upwardly-beveled or sloped nose face, see particularly FIGURE l1, for also facilitating its entry into one of the slots 2t). A centrally-disposed, vertical, rectangular rib 27b in an opposed relation to the pivot ledge 27a is of a width corresponding to the width of the grooves 24 (see FIGURES 8 and 9) of the refractory hanger 17 and is adapted to slide into one of such grooves along a pair of adjacent and spaced-apart tongues 25. The portion 27b terminates in a vertical, inwardlybeveled or sloped face or bottom portion 27e that extends therefrom into the bottom or base of the latching slot 27. The vertical portion 27h acts as a guide surface for the beveled bottom portions of the grooves 24 of the refractory hanger 17, see FIGURE 3.

The tile 26 (see FIGURES 10 and 11) is provided with downwardly-outwardly sloped top edge portions 2S and a plurality of vertically spaced-apart, substantially horizontally-extending, alternate, interlatching or interlocking horizontal cross slots 30 and ribs 29 (tongue and groove portions) along each of its edge or narrow side faces 26e and 263. It will be noted that the cross tongue and grooves of one edge or narrow side face 26e are vertically staggered with respect to -those on the opposite edge or narrow side face 26], In this manner, a complementary intertting relationship is accomplished between adjacent abutting tiles 26 of longitudinally adjacent rows of tiles that are suspended as transversely-edge or narrow side aligned groups, such as rows A and C of FIGURE 1 by their respective refractory hangers 17, or such as row B by the link bars 16. As shown in FIGURE 3, the tiles 26 are carried or suspended in such a manner that their wide side faces 26C and 26d abut in a given row and that their edge or narrow side faces 26e and 261 interlock with complementary edge or narrow side faces of the tile of adjacent abutting rows. As shown in FIGURE l, the tile 26 of adjacent rows are mounted in an alternate overlapping relation (for example, with a one inch overlap) with respect to each other. This, with tongue and groove portions 29 and 30, provides a bonded construction. I have thus been able to eliminate tongue and groove connections between adjacent abutting tiles 26 of the brick rows and, at the same time, employ a better and simplified type of tile having smooth or planar side faces 26C and 26d. In

this way, I obtain an effective interlock between the tile, blocks or bricks 26 by using adjacent tile to bridge them.

As shown in FIGURE 14, where the end tongues and grooves 29 and 3@ of a pair of tile are of the same positioning and do not complement each other, as may occur when dividing up the building of the roof into two 0pposed side halves, whose tile members are pivoted into a latch-hanging position from opposite directions, the centerline voids of reversed starting tile may be filled with mortar 31. When closing-up the last row of a tile wall or in replacing burnt-out tile, it may be advantageous to provide refractory hangers 17 (see FIGURE 17) of modified construction. They may be made of shorter length, for example of half size, as illustrated in FIGURE 17, and with top face slots (1S and 18a) as well as end ribs (22a) omitted. In addition, the latching slot 19 may be further lengthened or extended horizontally from one end of the tile 17', in order to permit the lower bar or cross portion of the central loop 16a of the link hanger 16 to enter further therealong, see FIGURE 15 taken in view of FIG- URES 16 and 17. The refractory hangers 17 are preferably made slightly shorter in height than the hangers 17 of FIGURE 16, in order to compensate for the slots 18 and 18a of the refractory hangers 17 and lie substantially flush along their bottom faces with respect to the hangers 17.

When repairs are being made to a roof, the latching ends 16C of the cross links 16 may rest directly in notches 18 and 1&1 of refractory hangers 18 of unmodified rows,

such as A and C of FIGURE 1, and as shown as to rows l D and F of FIGURE 1S. The bottom shelf portions 15 of the metal hangers 13 and the tongues 25 of the last refractory hanger tile 17 may be cut-off to facilitate dropping the final unit in from the top.

Row H of FIGURE 18 and FIGURE 2() illustrates the use of the modied refractory hangers 17. In FIG- URES 19 and 2l, I have shown a modified type of metal hanger 13', whose portions that are somewhat similar to the portions of the hanger of FIGURE 12, have been given prime affixes, but the same reference numerals. In this connection, the ledge portions 15' have a slightly different shape, in that lthey are substantially rectangular in their extension.

FIGURE 19 shows that the ledge portions |15 of an adjacent pair of metal hangers `13 may be positioned to project in opposite directions, instead of the same direction, as shown in the arrangement olf FIGURE 2 as to the shelf portions 15. It is thus apparent that the inventive structure may be modified to meet particular conditions witnout departing from the invention, and that the parts employed are flexible Iin their adaptability to particular requirements, for example, to repair Work in replacing individual or groups of refractory block or in closing-up Ithe last row of a roof.

Referring again to FIGURES l, 2 and 3, a series of refractory tile 26 Iare hung from each refractory hanger 17 as an aligned group or row. The refractory hangers 17 `of lone row are positioned in `an endWise-aligned and closely-adjacent relation with each other, so that the tile 26 carried thereby are carried in la close, sidewise-abutting, sealed relationship in such row. As particularly illustrated in FIGURE 2, the wide side faces 26C and 26d of the tile of each row and of each refractory-hung group in a row are in a closely abutting relationship and extend along in the same direction lor parallel to the cross beam member 12 which supports them. The tile 26 of the intermediate row B of FIGURE 1 have the same relationship, except that they have lan inwardly-spaced, central positioning wit-h respect to an adjacent pair of cross beams 1 2.

The refractory hangers `17 are, in turn, supported or suspended at their `opposite narrow ventical ends by a spaced, 'adjacent pair of rnetal hangers 113, and the latter are slidably suspended from a cross beam 12 which is a secondary or slide beam from the standpoint of a pair of fixed beams 11. The intermediate row B, instead of being carried directly by the metal hangers 13, is dlrectly carried by' link bars 16, whose central loops 16a normally align with the sidewise-open slot portions 1S and 18a of the refractory hangers 17, and the latching ends 16e of whose arms are adapted -to rest upon members of the directly suspended rows A and C. The link bars 16 thus support or suspended their block row (see row B of FIG- URE l) indirectly from an adjacent pair of cross beam members 12.

It will be noted that, in a normal construction, such as represented by FIGURES 1 to 13, inclusive, `the latching ends 16C of the link bar 16 cooperate with the shelf or ledge portions 15 of the hangers 13 as well as with top slots 18 and 18a in the top faces of the refractory hangers 17. In the construction of `FIGURE 16 employed for patching or repair work, the last refractory hanger row to be replaced will be made an intermediate row (such as E), .and the ends 16C of the link bars 16 will then rest within side slots y18 and 18a of the refractory hangers 17 of adjacent rows D and F. The last or closing row of tile of the refractory hanger row E, as employed in closing up the hole, have to 1be slid down into position. Thus, I chip olf their tongues 31), since they cant be pivoted `into position in the manner of FIGURE 3; it will be noted that refractory hangers 17 are used for the row E. Mortar may ybe used between end face voids of the last or closing row of tile `of the refractory hanger row E and adjacent abutting Itile rows.

In the modified construction of FIGURES 18 and 19, the link bars 16 rest at their latching ends 16C on the shelf portions 15' of the modified hangers 13 and no top slots are used in the refractory hangers 17 (see also FIG- URE 17). In the case of .the hangers `13 as well as the hangers 13', the side portions 1?'0 and `.13d or 13c and 13'd lie closely along opposed side faces of the refractory hanger 17 or `17', so as to give a stable and guided, suspended relationship with such hangers. FIGURES 2 and 19 show that the metal hangers may be mounted so that shelf portions of adjacent pairs may either extend in one direction lalong a refractory block row or in an opposed direction with respect to each other along such a row.

Referring to the novel form of mounting of the tile 26 with respect to the refractory hangers 17 of FIGURE 3, it will fbe noted that the -tile can only be engaged and disengaged by a pivoting or swinging action with respect to the refractory hangers. The overlapping portions or shoulders of the bottom pivot-latching portion of the hangers 17 and of the top pivot-latching portion of the associated tile members 26, assures a positive engagement that cannot be lost while the tile rows are in an abutting relation with each other. The so-called cross beams 12 that are of a relatively short length, as to their endwise rows, take the place of continuous-length longitudinal roof structural members. In their sidewise slidablymounted relation on the support beams 11, the cross beams 12 greatly facilitate roof construction and repair and, as `a row, carry a row of metal hangers 13 and of refractory hangers 17. Refractory, as employed herein with reference lto the hangers 17 and 17' and the tile members, brick or block 26, is best `defined in the Fifth edition of The Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Arthur and Elizabeth Rose, 1956, Reinhold Publishing Corporation, to the effect that it is a nonmetallic structural material for use lat high temperatures; it thus includes ceramic materials.

What I claim is:

1. In a furnace roof construction having spaced-apart support beams, a group of cross beams carried by the support beams, metal hangers carried by the cross beams, refractory hangers of nonmetallic structural material carried by the metal hangers, and refractory tile carried by the refractory hangers, an improved suspension assembly wherein, the cross beams are liftably-oif and slidablypositioned at their opposite ends to rest upon opposed flanges of adjacent pairs of the support beams to extend across therebetween, each metal hanger has a unitaryclosed loop slidably positioned on the top flange of an associated cross beam to project downwardly therefrom, each refractory hanger has slot portions, and a pair of the metal hangers are positioned on an associated cross beam to engage within the slot portions of an associated refractory hanger.

2. In a furnace roof construction having spaced-apart support beams, a group of cross beams carried by the support beams, metal hangers lcarried by the cross beams, refractory hangers of nonmetallic structural material carried by the metal hangers, and refractory tile carried by the refractory hangers, an improved suspension assembly wherein, the cross beams are positioned at their opposite ends to rest upon bottom anges of adjacent pairs of the support beams to extend across therebetween and be liftable therefrom, each metal hanger has a unitary-closed loop shape and has a top link portion slidably positioned on the Itop flange of an associated cross beam to suspend said hanger downwardly along the associated cross beam and therefrom, each refractory hanger has end slots, and a pair of said metal hangers are positioned on an associated cross beam and have bottom link portions to engage within the end slots of an associated refractory hanger.

3. In a furnace roof construction having spaced-apart support beams, a group of cross beams carried in a spacedapart relation by the support beams, metal hangers carried by the cross beams, refractory hangers of nonmetallic structural material carried by the metal hangers and having latching slot portions, and refractory tile carried by the refractory hangers, an improved suspension assembly wherein, the metal hangers are `carried as hanger rows in suspension from the cross beams, the metal hangers carry the refractory hangers as aligned rows therebeneath, metal link bars are positioned between adjacent rows of the metall hangers and have central loop portions latch-engaging Within the latching slot portions of the refractory hangers to suspend a row of refractory hangers in alignment therefrom, and said link bars have arms resting upon the metal hangers of the adjacent rows along the cross beams for support thereon.

4. In a furnace roof construction as defined in claim 3 wherein, the metal hangers are of closed-loop construction and have projecting shelf portions, and the arms of the said link bars latch on said shelf portions of adjacent rows of the metal hangers.

5. In a furnace roof construction having spaced-apart support beams, a group of cross beams carried in a spaced-apart relation by the support beams, metal hangers carried by the cross beams, refractory hangers of nonmetallic structural material carried by the metal hangers, and rows of refractory tile carried by the refractory hangers, an improved suspension assembly wherein, the metal hangers are slidably positioned along the cross beam members and suspend refractory hangers therefrom as aligned rows therewith, the refractory hangers have side-mounted open latching slot portions, link bars are provided having vertical central loop portions that engage within the latching slot portions of and suspend the refractory hangers as an intermediate row between an adjacent pair of the aligned rows, and said link bars have arms projecting from their central loop portions to cooperate With and engage the metal hangers of the aligned rows of the adjacent pair to suspend said link bars therefrom.

6. In an improved hanger for carrying a refractory hanger of nonmetallic structural material of a furnace roof construction, a unitary metal closed loop frame defined by opposed horizontal top and bottom link portions and opposed vertical side portions, and a pair of guide shelf portions projecting in one direction from the side portions perpendicular to the plane of said loop frame to guide the refractory hanger therebetween.

7. In an improved metal hanger for positioning over a cross beam member of a furnace roof construction, a unitary metal closed-loop frame defined by opposed horizontal top and bottom horizontal link portions and opposed vertical side portions, said loop frame being constructed to t over the cross beam member, horizontal top position-stabilizing tab portions projecting in opposite directions from said top link portion substantially perpendicular to the plane of said frame to rest upon the top flange of the cross beam member and extend in the direction of its length to prevent said frame from swinging in either direction on the associated cross beam member, and a pair of guide shelf portions projecting from the side portions perpendicular to the plane of said loop frame to guide the refractory hanger therebetween.

8. An improved metal hanger for carrying refractory hangers of a furnace roof construction from a pair of spaced-apart adjacent supports, said hanger being provided with a metal link bar having a vertical centrallydisposed closed loop frame projecting `downwardly therefrom and having its top loop defined by said link bar, said link bar `defining a pair of arms projecting from opposite sides of the top loop of said loop frame, turneddown latching ends on the projecting portions of said arms to suspend said link bar from the pair of spacedapart adjacent supports, a bottom loop of said loop frame being constructed to slidably engage `within and suspend the refractory hangers therefrom, and said pair of arms being reinforced by an upwardly-projecting flange that extends centrally-longitudinally therealong and along said turned-down latching ends.

9. In an improved refractory tile for a furnace roof construction that is adapted to be suspended by a refractory hanger, a refractory body having opposed relatively narrow substantially planar top and bottom faces, opposed relatively wide vertical and substantially planar side faces, and relatively narrow vertical opposed side faces provided with substantially horizontal tongue and groove portions vertically disposed therealong; the tongue and groove portions of one narrow vertical side face being staggered with respect to those of the other narrow vertical side face, so that a pair `of adjacent tile may be positioned in a complementary interiitting relationship as to their adjacent narrow side face portions, said body having a substantially centrally-disposed upwardly-open top latching-slot portion extending downwardly from its top face to receive the refractory hanger for suspension therefrom, said slot portion being vertically-open to said top face and being `horizontally-open to said opposed planar side faces; said slot portion being defined by an upwardlybeveled nose face projecting therein, a recess beneath said nose face, and an opposed vertically-extending centrallydisposed rib defining a narrow entry opening with said nose face, land said rib terminating in an inwardly-beveled face extending into said recess for defining a guide surface.

l0. In an improved refractory hanger for suspension from a cross member of a Vmetal hanger and for carrying a group of refractory tile members in a suspended relation therefrom, `a refractory body of nonmetallic structural material having relatively wide opposed side faces and relatively narrow end faces, a pivot latching nose portion projecting upwardly from a bottom face of said body to carry the tile members in a latched-on suspended relation therefrom, at least one horizontal latching slot portion extending from an end face of said body along and open to the opposed side faces thereof to receive the cross member of the metal hanger therein, and said nose portion being `defined by a substantially vertical planar portion of one of said opposed side faces and a portion inwardly-beveled therefrom into a bottom end face of said body, and said refractory body has an inwardlyl@ offset lower planar vertical face below the other of said opposed side faces and connected -thereto by vertical ribs that define substantially closed-end rectangular latching recesses.

ll. In a furnace roof construction having longitudinal rows of cross beams in a spaced-apart relation, refractory hangers of nonmetallic structural material having opposed side faces and opposed narrow side faces, and refractory tile members carried by the refractory hangers, an improved suspension assembly wherein, the refractory hangers are carried by the cross beams with their opposed narrow side faces in substantial longitudinal alignment with the cross beams, the refractory tile members have top and bottom ends and opposed narrow side faces and substantially planar opposed wide side faces and are suspended by each refractory hanger as a group with their opposed wide side faces substantially at right angles to the opposed wide side faces of the associated refractory hanger and in a longitudinal row with their planar wide side faces in abutment with each other to define adjacent longitudinal rows substantially parallel to the longitudinal rows of the cross beams, refractory tile members of the adjacent longitudinal rows have interlatching tongue and groove joints with respect to each other along their opposed narrow side faces to lock the rows in position with respect to each other, each refractory tile member has a latching slot portion centrally-disposed within and open to its top end, the refractory hangers have tongue and groove portions along their opposed wide side faces that engage in a complementary manner within said latching slot portions of a group of the tile members of an associated longitudinal row to individually lock and suspend the tile members of the associated longitudinal row in position with respect to each other therealong, and the latching slot portion of each refractory tile member has a shoulder cooperating with the tongue and groove portions of an associated refractory hanger for pivotally-mounting refractory tile members on the associated hanger independently of transversely adjacent refractory tile members.

12. In a furnace roof construction having longitudinal rows of cross beams in a spaced-apart relation therealong, an improved suspension assembly wherein, hangers are suspended from and slidable along the cross beam rows, longitudinal rows of refractory members of nonmetallic structural material are suspended by said hangers in a slidable relation along the cross beam rows, hanger bars rest upon and extend across between adjacent pairs of the refractory members of the cross beam rows and are liftably-suspended on said hangers, said hangers suspend a refractory member row from each of the cross beam rows, and said hanger bars have central loop portions that latchengage within the refractory members of and suspend at least one refractory member row between refractory member rows that are suspended by adjacent cross beam rows.

13. In a furnace roof construction having spaced-apart support beams, a group of cross beams carried by the support beams, metal hangers carried by the cross beams, and refractory members of nonmetallic structural material carried by the metal hangers, an improved suspension assembly wherein, the cross beams are slidably and swingably-liftably positioned at their opposite ends to rest upon the bottom flanges of adjacent pairs of the support beams to extend across therebetween, each metal hanger has a unitary-closed loop-shaped portion that is slidablypositioned on the top flange of an associated cross beam to project downwardly therealong and therefrom, the refractory members have open-side latching slot portions, and said loop-shaped portions of the metal hangers are constructed to transversely-enter and detachably latchengage within said latching slot portions of the refractory members to suspend them from the cross beams.

14. In a furnace roof construction having spaced-apart support beams, a group of cross beams carried by the support beams in a spaced relation with respect to each other, metal hangers carried by the cross beams as cross beam rows, refractory hangers of nonmetallic structural material carried by and along the metal hangers as refractory hanger rows, refractory tile carried by the refractory hangers of the metal hanger rows, and intermediate rows of refractory hangers along and between adjacent pairs of the metal hanger rows, an improved suspended assembly wherein, the cross beams are slidably-positioned at their opposite ends to rest upon bottom flanges of adjacent pairs of the support beams to extend across therebetween, the metal hangers of the cross beam rows are slidably suspended from the top flanges of the associated cross beams to project downwardly therealong and therefrom, metal link bars are provided having vertical centrallydisposed portions for carryingy the intermediate rows of the refractory hangers substantially parallel to adjacent rows of the refractory hangers that are carried by the metal hangers, said metal linlr bars having side-projecting arms to rest upon and suspend them from and between adjacent rows of the refractory hangers, each refractory hanger has a nose-shaped bottom latching portion provided with a group of adjacent opposite pivot portions, each refractory tile has a top latching-slot portion to engage within one of said pivot portions of an associated refractory hanger, so that a group of refractory tile may be suspended from each refractory hanger, each refractory hanger has end slots therein, the refractory hangers of the metal hanger rows are suspended by engagement of adjacent pairs of the metal hangers within said end slots, said metal linlt bars having central loop portions, and the refractory hangers of the intermediate rows are suspended by engagement of said central loop portions of said metal link bars within said end slots.

15. In a furnace roof construction, securely-horizontally positioned transversely spaced apart longitudinal support beams having bottom flanges projecting from opposite sides thereof; a group of horizontal spanning cross beams, each having a top flange and having a bottom flange projecting from opposite sides thereof and resting upon the bottom flanges of adjacent pairs of said longitudinal beams and extending across therebetween for slidable movement therealong; metal hangers carried in a vertically-suspended relation by said cross beams; refractory hangers of nonmetallic structural material carried in a vertically-suspended relation by said metal hangers in rows along said cross beams, refractory tile carried in a vertically-suspended relation by said refractory hangers, and each of said cross beams being positioned with its bottom flange on opposite bottom flange portions of an adjacent pair of said longitudinal beams in such a manner that it may be lifted out of position at one end with respect to one of said longitudinal beams by pivoting its one end on the bottom flange portion of the other of said longitudinal beams; each of said metal hangers is of loop shape, has an upper connecting link portion resting on the top flange of an associated one of the cross beams, has a pair of vertical side portions projecting downwardly along the associated cross beam, has a bottom connecting link portion that detachably engages within an associated one of said refractory hangers, and has a pair of shelf portions projecting substantially horizontally from said vertical side portions above said bottom connecting link portion to slidably guide the associated refractory hanger into and hold it in a detachably-engaging relation with said bottom con-- necting link portion.

16. In a furnace roof construction, securely-horizontally positioned transversely spaced apart longitudinal support beams having bottom flanges projecting from opposite sides thereof; a group of horizontal spanning cross beams, each having a top flange and having a bottom flange projecting from opposite sides thereof and resting upon the bottom flanges of adjacent pairs of said longitudinal beams and extending across therebetween for slidable movement therealong; metal hangers carried in a vertically-suspended relation by said cross beams, refractory hangers of nonmetallic construction material carried in a vertically-suspended relation by said metal hangers in rows along said cross beams, refractory tile carried in a vertically-suspended relation by said refractory hangers, and each of said cross beams being positioned with its bottom Harige on opposite bottom flange portions of an adjacent pair of said longitudinal beams in such a manner that it may be lifted out of position at one end with respect to one of said longitudinal beams by pivoting its other end on the bottoni flange portion ofthe other of said longitudinal beam; each of said instal hangers being slidably posi tioned on the top flange of and about an associated one of said cross beams for endwise movement therealong and having a portion suspended downwardly therefrom and engaging within an associated refractory hanger; each of said metal hangers being of unitary closed-loop shape and having an upper connecting link portion slidably resting upon the top flange of an associated one of said cross beams, having a pair of Vertical side portions projecting in a spaced relation downwardly along the associated cross beam and past the bottom flange thereof, and having a bottom connecting link` portion that constitutes the portion suspended downwardly thereof and that detachably engages within an associated one of said refractory hangers; and each of said metal hangers having a pair of shelf portions projecting substantially horizontally from said vertical side portions above said bottom connecting link portion to sldably guide the associated refractory hanger into and hold it in its detachable engaging relation with said bottom connecting link portion.

17. ln a furnace roof construction having longitudinal rows of cross beams in a spacedapart relation, refractory hangers of non-metallic structural material having opposed side faces and carried by the cross beams, and refractory tile members carried by the refractory hangers, an improved suspension assembly wherein, the refractory tile members have top and bottom ends and opposed narrow side faces and substantially planar opposed wide side faces and are suspended by each refractory hanger as a group in a longitudinal row with their planar wide side faces in abutment with each other to define adjacent longitudinal rows substantially parallel to the longitudinal rows of the cross beams, refractory tile members of the adjacent longitudinal rows have interlatching tongue and groove joints with respect to each other along their opposed narrow side faces to loci: the rows in position with respect to each other, each refractory tile member has a latching slot portion centrally-disposed within and open to its top end, the refractory hangers have tongue and groove portions along their opposed side faces that engage in a complementary manner within said latching slot portions of the tile members of an associated longitudinal row to individually lock and suspend the tile members of the associated longitudinal row in position with respect to each other therealong, and said latehing slot portion of each refractory tile member has a shoulder cooperating with a tongue portion of an associated refractory hanger and is constructed to require the tile member to be pivotally inserted on the associated refractory hanger and to retain the refractory tile member in a suspended relation on the tongue portion.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 278,506 Cassell May 29, 1883 386,228 Allen July 17, 1888 1,452,295 Frozeth et al Apr. 17, 1923 1,466,751 Poppenhusen Sept. 4, 1923 1,617,759 Jackson Feb. 15, 1927 1,679,725 Jacobus Aug. 7, 1928 1,764,708 Abbott June 17, 1930 1,848,737 Matthews Mar. 8, 1932 2,109,942 Dee Mar. l, 1938 2,119,779 Crysler June 7, 1938 (Gtlier references on following page) 13 UNITED STATES PATENTS Hosbein Dec. 13, 1938 Pollen Aug. 1, 1939 Robertson Apr. 1, 1941 Hosbein et al Aug. 10, 1948 Young Jan. 4, 1949 Schmidt Apr. 25, 1950 Weber et al. Oct. 3, 1950 Magnuson Aug. 12, 1952 Hazen Apr. 14, 1953 14 Banck Jan. 5, 1954 Lanyon Oct. 18, 1955 Herman May 21, 1957 Hutter Mar. 22, 1960 Beyerle Feb. 13, 1962 Peters Feb. 20, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Mar. 2, 1926 France Dec. 15, 1954 France Mar. 9, 1959 

14. IN A FURNACE ROOF CONSTRUCTION HAVING SPACED-APART SUPPORT BEAMS, A GROUP OF CROSS BEAMS CARRIED BY THE SUPPORT BEAMS IN A SPACED RELATION WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER, METAL HANGERS CARRIED BY THE CROSS BEAMS AS CROSS BEAM ROWS, REFRACTORY HANGERS OF NONMETALLIC STRUCTURAL MATERIAL CARRIED BY AND ALONG THE METAL HANGERS AS REFRACTORY HANGER ROWS, REFRACTORY TILE CARRIED BY THE REFRACTORY HANGERS OF THE METAL HANGER ROWS, AND INTERMEDIATE ROWS OF REFRACTORY HANGERS ALONG AND BETWEEN ADJACENT PAIRS OF THE METAL HANGER ROWS, AN IMPROVED SUSPENDED ASSEMBLY WHEREIN, THE CROSS BEAMS ARE SLIDABLY-POSITIONED AT THEIR OPPOSITE ENDS TO REST UPON BOTTOM FLANGES OF ADJACENT PAIRS OF THE SUPPORT BEAMS TO EXTEND ACROSS THEREBETWEEN, THE METAL HANGERS OF THE CROSS BEAM ROWS ARE SLIDABLY SUSPENDED FROM THE TOP FLANGES OF THE ASSOCIATED CROSS BEAMS TO PROJECT DOWNWARDLY THEREALONG AND THEREFROM, METAL LINK BARS ARE PROVIDED HAVING VERTICAL CENTRALLYDISPOSED PORTIONS FOR CARRYING THE INTERMEDIATE ROWS OF THE REFRACTORY HANGERS SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO ADJACENT 